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Húsavík

Húsavík is a surprisingly large town in Northeast Iceland. It is a very pretty place and has become a major destination for people travelling around the country.

The town is ‘surprisingly’ large for two reasons: firstly because the northeast of Iceland is extremely sparsely populated, even by Icelandic standards; and secondly because it is quite a way off the main Route 1 highway. This does not stop people finding the place, however, and it has gained the moniker “Whale Watching Capital of Europe”.

Iceland is an island around which whales swim. That means you can see them anywhere. But for some reason (probably to do with currents and food supply) there is no better place to see them than off the coast of Húsavík. This is the best place to see a wide variety of different whale species, including the biggest creature to have ever lived on Planet Earth: the blue whale. There are also no better boats upon which to make the whale watching adventure.

North Sailing uses a fleet of beautiful old wooden boats, including two sailing schooners, all maintained to the highest standards. Just being aboard such a vessel inspires the voyager with a sense of adventure – and that’ s before she even leaves the dockside…

Húsavík tops off its baleen credentials by having a large whale museum, which is well worth a peek. Apart from whales, Húsavík has a couple of other museums, a few choices of eating and drinking places, all the important shops and services; and it is a pleasant place to be due to its interesting harbour and well-maintained wooden houses.

It also makes a brilliant place to base yourself for trips to Mývatn, Ásbyrgi, Dettifoss and the far northeast of the island. It might also be a good place from which to explore Akureyri, if the tiny city is just too big for you to want to stay in on your precious holiday!

Húsavík has an airport, served by Eagle Air – and is accessible by road number 85.